DAYTON - Paris sizzles, New York never sleeps so when you look at the Dayton skyline, what thoughts come to mind about where the Gem City is heading?

Depending on whom you ask and where, public perception of downtown Dayton can vary.

“I think it’s a town that’s been struggling for a while, but I think it’s starting to come back” said Marie Belpulsi of Centerville.

“They are starting to open up stores, they’re bringing out apartments so they’re trying to rejuvenate it and bring downtown back, which is cool because it gives us something to do,” said Deondray Fields, a Downtown Dayton resident.

The change people are noticing actually has substance as more ‘Open’ signs are lining downtown streets.

In 2012, 44 new businesses and organizations opened and more are expected throughout 2013. A string of new restaurants, shops and housing developments are examples of the recent growth.

“Many of these businesses are locally owned businesses, they’re entrepreneurs and they want to be a part of the energy downtown,” said Sandra Gudorf of Downtown Dayton Partnership.

One of those new businesses is Brim, a hat store, in the heart of the Oregon District downtown. Business owner Amelia O’Dowd said she’s seen nothing but growth since she’s moved in.

O’Dowd has been in the Oregon District for four months, and after sharing her success in the heart of the Gem City, other business owners decided to give Dayton a second look.

“People are seriously thinking about possibly moving to Dayton because it’s so much more reasonable to open a business and there’s so much need down here,” said O’Dowd.

That growing need has apparently lit a fire downtown and to the delight of business owners old and new, people are taking notice.

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